Wrench.



H. B. QUINN.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, ms.

15,270,746. Patented June 25, 1918.

awvawtoz 'J'i'obtrf 5 Wu 2222 JITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. QUINN, F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 TONKIE A. QUINN, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1918.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, ROBERT B. QUINN a citizen of the United States, residing at olumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the followingis a specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings.

his invention relates to certain improvements in wrenches and has relation more particularly toa device of this general character including a sliding jaw held in its various adjustments through the medium of a toothed rack catch and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character havin novel and improved means whereby the sli ing jaw is effectively maintained in its diflerent adjustments under the influence of. the strain or pull imposed thereon durin a working operation.

It is a so an object of the invention to provide a novel .and improved wrench of this general character wherein a materially greater separating movement may be imparted to the jaws of the wrench in comp-arison with the other types of similar Wrenches now generally in use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved wrench of this general character wherein the rack catch is normally urged toward the rack through the medium of an expansible member together with parts carried by the rack for contact with the sliding jaw so that the teeth of the sliding catch are relieved of strain during a working operation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved wrench whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise 1 more convenient and advantageous for use,

as'will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will herein-after be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with an end portion broken away of a wrench constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the jaws being shown separated;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation showing the coacting structure of the shank and movable jaws; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings S denotes a shank of my improved wrench provided at its outer end with the rlgid aw J. The opposite end portion is adapted to have engaged therewith in any desired manner a grip or hand rasp G.

part of my present invention and for this reason it is believed to be unnecessary to give a detailed description and illustration thereof.

M denotes a movable jaw slidably engaged with the shank S through the medium of the jaw J and the hand grasp or grip G and the opening 1 of the jaw M through which the shank S is directed is of a length slightly in excess of the width of the shank S so that the jaw M is capable of slight movement transversely of the shank S independently thereof.

The outer face of the extended portion of the jaw M is recessed as indicated at 2' and the side walls of said recess at a point in close proximity to the shank S are provided with the spaced ears 3. Engaged with the ears 3 is a pivot member 4 preferably removable and with which the catch 0 is engaged for rocking movement. The inner marginal portions of the ears 3 or the marginal portions thereof opposed to the shank S are rounded as at 5 with the curvature concentric to the pivoted pin 4:.

The face or edge of the shank S opposed to the catch C is provided with a rack R extending from a point in close proximity to the jaw J to the hand grasp or grip G and the teeth in said rack are correspondin 1y beveled in a direction so that the mova, 1e jaw M may have free and unobstructed independent movement.) This free movement toward the jaw J and whereby the catch C will effectively interlock with the teeth of the rack B when pull or strain is imposed upon the shank S during a working operation. j

The working end of the catch C is flat and snugly overlies the rack'R and "said working face is provided with 'the'outstanding teeth 6 disposed transversely thereof and which interlock with the teeth of the rack R. I

The working end portion of the. catch C is provided with the oppositely directed lugs 8 which overlie the earsi3 and arranged for contact therewith. The contacting sur faces of the lugs 8 are rounded in accord-' ance with the curvature of the inner marginal portions of the ears 3 so that when pull or strain is imposed upon the shank S during a working operation, be forced between the ears 3 and the adjacent edge or face of'the shank S so that the strain or pulleffected during the operation will assure the desired coaction' of the catch C and the rackR for holding the jaw M l directed tail portion 11- andinterposed be: tween-said tall portion 11 and the base of the recess 2 isan expansible member 12 herein disclosed asa conventional coil spring. The tension of themember '12 is such as to constantly urge the working. face of the catch C toward the rack R. It is to be emphasized at this time, however, that the expansible member, 12 is not for the purpose of effecting thedesired locking action between the catch C and'the rack R as this is efliected entirely throughthe medium of the pull or strain imposed upon the shank. It is to be understood, however, that the tension of the member l2'is suiiicient to effect an initial interlock .sothat the jaw M will, be maintainedin its proper adjustment relative to the jaw J and in accordance with the size or the character'of the work with which the wrench is to be employed.

It is also to be particularly noted that the ears 3 are relatively small and this is of especial import as itpermits the greatest possible range of movement of the jaw M relative to the :jaw J. In practice'it has 'beenjfound that with a twelve inch wrench the lugs 8 will slight free or' shank S the jaw M as herein disclosed is capable of movement of four and onehalf inches atria any point therebetween. By. this provision it will be at once self-evidentthat the usages of my improved wrenchare manifold as it I can be readily employed with comparatively light or heavy work.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention. is

susceptible of somechange and modification without departing-from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself-to the precise-arrangement andformation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practiceexcept as here ina'fterclaiined.

I claim:

1. A Wrench, in combination with a shank provided. with a rigidfijaw, a'movable jaw slidably engaged with the shankand capable of slight rocking movement independently of the shank, spaced" ears carried by the-movable jaw outwardly'of the shank, a

catchp iVOtally engaged between the ears, the working end of the 'catch and-the ad'ja cent 'face'ofthe shank "being provided wlth interlocking teeth, the inner marginalportions of the ears'of the movable jaw being rounded, the working endof'the catchibeing provided with oppositely directed lugs arranged forconta'ctwith the rounded portions of the ear-s,-f the contacting-faces 0f thelugs being curvedcorrespondingly to the rounded faces of the ears whereby pressure is imposed directly i upon -the working end portion of the catch formaintaining the same locked to the shank when pull is imposed upon the wrench and the jawsen:

gaged with the work, and means for con-1 stantly urging the working-end of the catch. toward the shank.

2. A wrench, in combination with a shank P f ded with a rigid jaw, a movable ja'wk shdably engaged with th vand; capaf Z ble of slight rocking movement independently of the shank; spaced ears carried by the movable jaw outwardly of the shank,

a catch pivotally engaged betweenthe ears, the working end of the catch and the'adjacent face of the shank heingprovided with interlocking teeth, the inner marginal i'portions of the ears of-the movable jaw being rounded, the working end ofthe catch being provided with oppositely directed lugs arranged for contact with the rounded portions of the ears, the contacting faces of the lugs being curved 'correspondingly "to the rounded faces of the ears whereby pressure is imposed directly upon the working end portion of the catch for maintaining the same locked to the shank when pull is imposed upon the wrench and the jaws engaged with the work, and means for constantly urging the working end of the catch toward the shank, said catch being pivoted with the movable jaw by a pin carried by 10 the jaw and disposed through an opening in the catch, the opening in the catch being of a diameter slightly in excess of the diameter of the pin.

In testimony whereofI hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT B. QUINN.

Witnesses:

F. A. QUINN, W. E. Lawson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

